Living in Florence and teaching a classroom full of Fiorentina fans, this was always going to feel personal — basically my own private derby. I really didn’t want to lose this one.
With transport and a hotel booked before Christmas, I’d managed to snag a great deal on both. I decided to head down around lunchtime and have a proper wander around Rome to take my mind off the game before meeting Silvia and Stefano.
Sadly, no Nigel and Jin this time — they’d escaped to Budapest for something far more cultured than the Curva Nord.
Afternoon Fun
I travelled down by train and, once again, Italo came up trumps. I honestly can’t praise them enough — comfortable, reliable, and just a better way to move between Florence and Rome. A cheeky upgrade to Prima meant a “free” coffee and some biscuits, which always feels like a small but meaningful victory.
As I’ve said before, I don’t love staying near Termini, and I usually advise people to avoid it. But with an early train back the following morning for work, it made sense this time, so I booked Hotel Marco Polo.
My expectations weren’t especially high — but I was pleasantly surprised. I checked in a little early, the room was clean, comfortable and quiet, and I felt genuinely relieved, especially as I’ve already got another booking there later this month.
With my Lazio scarf safely hidden in my bag, I headed out into the city. I skipped my usual porchetta stop near Termini and instead made my way past the Colosseum towards Piazza Navona. From there I popped into Marmi for a slice of pizza a taglio — not cheap, but always fresh and worth it.
After that it was on to Campo de’ Fiori, then across to Trastevere, strolling along the Lungotevere before cutting across St Peter’s Square and heading to Ottaviano. From there, bus 32 took me up to Ponte Milvio — that familiar ritual that always signals matchday has properly begun.
I grabbed a beer at Bar Pallotta while waiting for Silvia and Stefano to arrive. Once they did, it was straight into another round — and, of course, a hit of Caffè Borghetti. Some traditions are sacred.
The derby had started long before kickoff.
The Match
Without wanting to sound like a broken record, Lazio once again found themselves on the wrong side of a poor refereeing performance.
The first half was tense and scrappy, exactly what you’d expect from a game that felt like a personal derby for me. We started well, moving the ball with purpose and pushing Fiorentina back, and when Mario Gila had his shirt clearly tugged inside the area it should have been a stonewall penalty. The referee waved it away. VAR stayed silent. Another “nothing to see here” moment.
After the break, the referee suddenly found his whistle. Both sides were awarded penalties — and to be honest, neither was particularly convincing. Soft contacts, minimal force, and the kind of decisions that change games more than they reflect what actually happened on the pitch. If one of them goes against you, you feel robbed; if it goes for you, you know you’ve got away with one.
What should have been a flowing contest between two technical sides turned into a stop-start battle of interruptions, protests and VAR checks. It sucked some of the rhythm out of the game, even if the tension never dropped.
Watching Lazio against Fiorentina always carries an extra edge for me, and this one was no different — part pride, part anxiety, part sheer stubborn refusal to let my Florentine students have the bragging rights.
Goodbye Mattéo Guendouzi
Mattéo Guendouzi said an emotional goodbye to the Lazio supporters ahead of his move to Fenerbahçe, thanking the fans for their constant backing during his time in Rome. The French midfielder spoke warmly about the bond he felt with the Curva Nord, highlighting the passion, intensity and sense of belonging that made playing for Lazio special to him.
Guendouzi made it clear that wearing the Biancocelesti shirt was never just a job, but a responsibility he carried with pride every time he stepped onto the pitch at the Olimpico. As he prepares for a new chapter in Turkey, he leaves with genuine affection for the club and its supporters, promising that Lazio will always remain an important part of his career and his identity as a player.
Matchday Experience
| Category | Experience |
| Travel | Italo train from Florence to Rome with a cheeky Prima upgrade — coffee, biscuits and comfort all the way |
| Hotel | Hotel Marco Polo near Termini — unexpectedly clean, quiet and comfortable |
| Pre-match Food | Pizza a taglio at Ai Marmi near Piazza Navona |
| Walking Route | Colosseum → Piazza Navona → Campo de’ Fiori → Trastevere → Lungotevere → St Peter’s → Ottaviano |
| Pre-match Drinks | Beer at Bar Pallotta, followed by Caffè Borghetti with Silvia and Stefano |
| Meeting Point | Ponte Milvio |
| Atmosphere | Friendly but edgy — Fiorentina in town always sharpens the mood |
| Personal Stakes | A “home derby” against the club I hear about every day in class |
Conclusion
This one mattered to me more than most. Living in Florence, surrounded by Fiorentina fans day in, day out, this felt like a little piece of personal pride was on the line as well as three points.
Between the long walk across Rome, the rituals at Ponte Milvio, and sharing drinks with Silvia and Stefano, it had all the ingredients of a proper Lazio away day — even if technically it wasn’t. The refereeing left a sour taste, as it so often has this season, but the experience itself was pure Domenica Bastardi: travelling, wandering, meeting friends, and carrying Lazio with me through the streets of Rome.
Win, lose or draw, I’ll still be walking into class in Florence with my head held high — scarf in my bag, eagle on my chest, and another chapter added to this mad 38-game journey.
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